NAD M51 Direct Digital DAC Impressions | Page 7 | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org

obzilla · Apr 25, 2012 at 4:26 PM

Quote:

mcullinan said:
Well you can set the output to fixed and run everything out to another pre.

Ah right, you can set it to fixed. Would that be the same as 0db or +10db?

mmeysarosh · Apr 25, 2012 at 4:32 PM

I just started using the M51 without my preamp and it seems to drive everything quite well. I will try a session between the two over the weekend and provide some notes on what I hear.

mcullinan · Apr 25, 2012 at 4:52 PM

you know I'm not sure... can't wait to get home and do more listening.

woodcans · Apr 25, 2012 at 5:56 PM

Quote:

morbidtoaster said:
I'd like to use my XDA-1 as a pre (which I do now) but if you another analog source you're stuck. Turntables are legit though.

My system with the m51 sounds so good, I sold my turntable and entire vinyl/analog setup.

dwk · Apr 25, 2012 at 8:17 PM

Quote:

obzilla said:
No there is no standard, but PS Audio and Wyred 4 Sound are both taking a similar (and from what I hear, coincidentally compatible) approach with I2S over HDMI. Which is why I am hoping someone out there has access to a PW Transport, or a W4S mini server to test if they are by chance compatible with the NAD. More so the W4S server, if compatible I would snap one up and use it as a dedicated source.

It comes from this brochure.

https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCQQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpeterhoagland.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2011%2F08%2FNR-NAD-M51-Direct-Digital-DAC-1-09-2012.doc&ei=VHCVT5_7B4ay8ATxhcWVBA&usg=AFQjCNE1PciFql8KnwjvFpTw5Rh3wZ-Q7Q

And again here in the NAD official datasheet from their website.

http://nadelectronics.com/download.php?111221101428-NAD_M51_DataSheet.pdf|Data%20Sheet%20-%20M51%20Direct%20Digital%20DAC

Interesting - missed this. I remain a bit skeptical due to the wording and the lack of specific compatibility info, but they are clearly using the term I2S though, so who knows.

dwk · Apr 25, 2012 at 8:24 PM

Quote:

obzilla said:
My Marantz universal player works beautifully over HDMI with it, CDs report 44.1k, and interestingly, SACDs report 88.2k, which is odd as the redbook layer should be read, but I won't complain if it's picking up a better sample rate, or even if it just thinks it is.

This is how the Oppo players handle SACD as well - as 88k pcm. Assuming the Marantz is an SACD player, maybe this isn't all that surprising. On the other hand, when I've had my HDMI lockups, I think the display has shown 88.2k despite the original source being 48k, so I guess you can't rule out confusion.

Quote:

mcullinan said:
o a SB Touch --> USB -->NADM51 --> Supratek Sauvignon pre --> Manley Mahi Mahi mono amps --> Merlin VSM MX

Right now the NAD is burning in in my 2nd system. What do you think for burn in, like 4 days?
Thanks!
M

When I read the thread over on the squeezebox forums on the EDO app, the only person to mention the M51 was reporting that USB wasn't working. I have a touch, but it'll be some time before I can try USB out to the M51. 192k over spdif did work though according to the report, which would still be a decent signal chain.
My plan is SBT->M51->NCore->????? (speakers to be decided - Selah Tempestas are in the lead at the moment). The ability of the M51 to serve as a balanced pre makes this attractively minimalist.

obzilla · Apr 25, 2012 at 8:39 PM

Quote:

dwk said:
This is how the Oppo players handle SACD as well - as 88k pcm. Assuming the Marantz is an SACD player, maybe this isn't all that surprising. On the other hand, when I've had my HDMI lockups, I think the display has shown 88.2k despite the original source being 48k, so I guess you can't rule out confusion.

It's a universal Bluray/DVD/SACD player, so I guess that makes sense, Strange to normal redbook come out at 44.1, and the redbook layer of an SACD (since this is not a DSD DAC) come out at 88.2

As far as the HDMI stuff. The Sonore Music Server lists all these as compatible I2S HDMI devices

http://www.sonore.us/Sonore-I2S-Compatibility.html

The M51 is newer to market, and not on the list (yet) but I have a hunch it's using the same pin configuration as these guys (notice the pin settings of the devices that are compatible), we will have another connectivity option. But we can't know until someone tests it, NAD tech support over their website is slow and not very informative, I'll try calling at some point.

https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?hl=en_US&hl=en_US&key=0AgVhKcl_3lHfdFhNT0xWQnNVWTI1QjhTdXVGVThiYnc&output=html

MorbidToaster · Apr 25, 2012 at 9:38 PM

Any word on a possible black unit?

obzilla · Apr 25, 2012 at 9:46 PM

Quote:

morbidtoaster said:
Any word on a possible black unit?

If you mean the chasis, it's doubtful, All the Master Series products are grey / silver.

dwk · Apr 25, 2012 at 11:55 PM

Quote:

obzilla said:
It's a universal Bluray/DVD/SACD player, so I guess that makes sense, Strange to normal redbook come out at 44.1, and the redbook layer of an SACD (since this is not a DSD DAC) come out at 88.2

It's not reading the redbook layer - it's reading the DSD layer and doing an on-the-fly conversion to 88.2k PCM. The redbook layer would in fact come through at 44.1.

obzilla · Apr 26, 2012 at 7:53 AM

Quote:

dwk said:
It's not reading the redbook layer - it's reading the DSD layer and doing an on-the-fly conversion to 88.2k PCM. The redbook layer would in fact come through at 44.1.

OK, that makes sense that the player is doing a PCM conversion. I had never used anything other than analog out, or HDMI to a receiver with it before.
Thanks!

mcullinan · Apr 26, 2012 at 9:44 AM

Pic, on top of a 20+ year old adcom

obzilla · Apr 26, 2012 at 10:05 AM

Looking good!

Have any other owner looked into the M50 Media player? Basically the new master series CD player that connects to USB storage and rips CDs and works as the head of a music server (wifi streaming, ipad/pod library remote etc).
Kind of like some of the Vortex Box servers out there. It looks fantastic, but it's a bit on the steep side ($2500 if I am not mistaken). I'm checking with my local NAD dealer to see if she has one, or can get one, and if I can get a good price. A more expensive means of removing the computer from the equation, but possibly more elegant.

mcullinan · Apr 26, 2012 at 10:22 AM

This issue I have with rippers or proprietary music servers is are you going to get the support, plugins and ease of use like Squeezebox, since it has a broad audience.

obzilla · Apr 26, 2012 at 11:02 AM

Sorry, I don't see what squeezebox has to do with it?

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